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If you’re a regular to our blog or have called us to ask about window tint installation, you may have learned about some of the restrictions imposed by the State of California regarding your tint. If you haven’t already, check out our post that delves into the specifics of California tint laws. In today’s post, we’ll follow up on some of the questions we are frequently asked and attempt to explain the laws as compared to other states.
For the average person who wants to tint their car windows for aesthetic reasons, or the normal Californian who desires refuge from the sun in their vehicle, tint laws may seem like a bizarre existence. However, like most laws, they exist for a reason. While we don’t necessarily agree with or endorse the various tint laws, it’s important to acknowledge the rationale behind them.
Most tint laws exist for safety reasons. Too dark tint makes it difficult for drivers to see and react in low-light situations and poses a threat to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, especially between dusk and dawn. A darker tint can make it challenging to see street signs, stoplights, and effectively use your peripheral vision. Reflective tint can pose visual concerns for other drivers and passersby when the sunlight or external lights reflect off of the film. And, while blacking out windows helps provide privacy for those within the vehicle, it makes routine traffic stops dangerous for law enforcement officers and can make it impossible to view people, children, or pets in danger trapped in a vehicle. Most tint laws acknowledge the value of window tints’ role in reducing health risks within a vehicle and allow for the strongest UV-blocking tint that doesn’t affect visibility. This makes sense — you need to be able to see where you are going and what’s going on around you.
Tint laws focus on several main areas including visibility, location, and light penetration. Let’s take a look.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is a measurement of the amount of visible light that can transmit through a material. VTL is expressed as a percentage, where 80-100% VTL is very light tint that allows most of the sunlight to permeate. The lower the VTL, the darker the tint. In California, the darkest tint allowed by law on the windshield and front side windows is 70% and there is no restriction on the rear side and back windows.
VTL is regulated in most states as a safety issue as we discussed earlier. The less light that penetrates the windows means less visibility for the driver, especially in low light conditions.
Reflective glass or tint is annealed glass or film that has a thin layer of metallic coating to reduce sun glare without affecting how much light penetrates the surface. Reflectivity allowance varies from state to state from none allowed to 35%. California law restricts reflectivity in car window tint to what comes standard on the vehicle by the manufacturer, meaning you cannot add any reflectiveness to what exists.
Reflectivity is regulated to prevent completely polarized or reflective windows that would pose a threat to other drivers and pedestrians.
State laws govern what colors can be used to tint windows, with all 50 states allowing charcoal and black. Most states limit colors that could affect the driver’s ability to properly view street signs, traffic lights, and other vehicles, including amber, red, purple, blue, and green. California window tint laws prohibit amber/yellow, red, and blue tints.
Most states, California included, have exceptions to the rules. Window tint is widely recognized for being protective against heat, UV rays, and excessive glare that could impede safe driving. In fact, nearly every vehicle comes off the assembly line with some degree of window tint because crystal clear windows are incredibly dangerous.
Medical exemptions may be granted for people with qualifying medical conditions including lupus, photosensitivity, and melanoma. In California, these medical exemptions are not easy to obtain but would qualify a driver or frequent passenger to be able to use darker tint on front side windows for their health. To qualify for a medical exemption, you’ll need a note from your dermatologist or recommending physician and a certification sticker affixed to the window.
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When driving in, or through, another state, you’re subject to that state’s tint laws. Some states are more lenient on their tint laws to those just passing through, but most are not. It’s important to know the tint laws in other states you’re driving through, especially if you were pushing the limits in your home state. The good news for traveling Californians is that California has some of the most restrictive front window tint laws in the United States, so you’re likely okay in most states you visit. If you’ve gone max black-out on the rear windows, you may encounter some issues.
While we can have a max of 70% VTL (the lightest tint) on the windshield and front side windows, our neighbors in Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona allow 35%. What can get you in trouble, though, is California does not restrict the VTL on the rear side and the back window, whereas neighboring states do. For instance, Arizona and Nevada both also allow any tint VTL on rear windows, Oregon limits it to 35%.
Ignorance will not help you avoid a traffic stop, but reminding the LEO that you are just passing through may get you out of hefty fines. The bottom line is that there is no tint law reciprocity and you’re expected to follow the laws of the state you’re in.
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At Jet Black Tint, our tint experts stay up to date with current regulations and state tint laws. We guarantee that all of our window tint installations are legal within the state of California and will not put you at risk of a traffic violation. If you’ve got questions, we can help you understand the answers. For legal car tint you’ll love, book your installation with the Jet Black Tint near you today!